Northern Territory's population increased by over 600 people in the 2003 calendar year, according to figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) today.

This growth follows a slight decline between June 2002 and March 2003, with increases in each quarter since the end of March 2003. The population of the Northern Territory at 31 December 2003 was 198,700.

During 2003, the Northern Territory population increased by 2,900 due to natural increase (the excess of births over deaths). Net overseas migration added 600 to the population. However, a loss of 2,900 people through net interstate migration offset much of the gains through natural increase and net overseas migration.

Over the last 10 years, the number of people leaving the Territory for interstate has been relatively stable, ranging between 16,600 and 18,600 people per year. In 2003, 17,700 people departed the Territory for interstate.

However, the number of people moving from other parts of Australia to the Northern Territory has declined. In 1996, 19,100 people moved to the Territory - the largest number of arrivals in the last 30 years. In comparison, 14,800 people moved to the Territory in 2003, the same as in 2001 and just below 2002 (15,100 arrivals).

Today's release contains the latest available data on natural increase (the excess of births over deaths), net interstate migration and net overseas migration and their contribution to the population size and growth of the Australian states and territories.

Further details are in Australian Demographic Statistics, December Quarter 2003(cat. no. 3101.0).